§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will request the trustees of the International Fund for Ireland to make loans instead of grants to luxury hotels, following aid approved exceeding £2 million in this category during 1989.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleThe International Fund for Ireland is administered by an independent board appointed jointly by the governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. All decisions on the assistance offered to individual projects are a matter for that board. I understand, however, that the fund has given its tourism programme high priority because of the industry's potential contribution to job creation and to the general economy in the area covered by the fund. Assistance can be either by loan or grant and a decision in each case is taken on the basis of a full business appraisal. Given this background, it would be inappropriate to offer the advice suggested.